Characteristics of Organic Compounds

Organic compounds are those compounds that exist within nature, which contain carbon-hydrogen bonds and carbon-carbon, as well as other elements within their molecular structures, such as oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. In addition to these basic elements, other elements are also present, although those mentioned above, they are the basic elements and are not lacking in the composition of the molecules of which the living matter.

Since all organic structures are found to have carbon in their composition, it is believed that all organic compounds base their composition on carbon structures. That is why it is said that life is based on carbon, even calling organic chemistry (the one in charge of studying the composition of living beings), carbon chemistry. The main compounds that living things are made of are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins, although there are many more combinations of organic compounds.

Some common characteristics of organic compounds:

They are formed on the basis of carbon.

Organic compounds have carbonate structures, that is, the different compounds that form the structures of the various known organisms contain carbon within their structures molecular. This is mainly due to the quality of carbon to form bonds and combine with other elements, because each of its atoms can share up to four electrons with other atoms, being able to link in long chains, which can be linear, branched, or form rings, thus forming a great variety of molecular structures, with different properties. As all known organic structures are composed of carbon, it is said that life is only possible in the presence of carbon, since it is thanks to its characteristics that millions of combinations can be formed with other carbon atoms and other elements, so that life is founded or based on the carbon. Some of the organic compounds essential for animal and plant life are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins.

Some are Isomers. Several organic compounds present isomerism, (isomerism is the property of some compounds to have the same formulas in the proportion of elements from which the molecule is formed, but which have different molecular structures and therefore properties different). An example of organic isomers are ethyl alcohol and dimethyl ether, which are composed of the same quantity of elements but which are organized in different structures, in the same way it happens with several sugars.

They are covalent. Organic compounds are covalent, that is, they are not ionic, so they have characteristics such as a relatively low melting point and boiling point, they do not conduct electricity, and can be dissolved by means of nonpolar solvents, such as for example water, alcohol and others, which can be divided into polar portico solvents and solvents contribution. Some of the organic compounds that do not dissolve in water, do in substances such as gasoline (hydrocarbon), benzene, ether, carbon tetrachloride or ketones.

Little or no conductivity.  These compounds do not possess electrical conductivity. Because the bonds between its molecules are covalent, the solutions of organic compounds (carbon compounds) do not ionize, preventing electrical conductivity.

They occur in the three basic states of matter. Organic compounds can appear in liquid, solid and gaseous states. An example of this are the various materials derived from petroleum, which can be presented in liquid or fluid, gaseous, as well as solid form, as is the case. of plastics, natural gas, and various fuels such as diesel or gasoline, in the same way, other organic compounds such as sugars, and Starches, are in a liquid state when dissolved in substances such as water, in body fluids for example, or in a solid state such as sugar commercial.

Combustibility.- These compounds have the peculiarity of being combustible; These compounds contain large concentrations of carbon, which is why many serve as fuels for both plant and animal life, such as when the Sugars are transformed into ATP, in organisms providing the necessary energy for vital processes, or as in the case of fossil fuels, which are compounds that belonged to living beings (plants and animals) and that through different chemical and physical processes (The organic remains are covered by water poor in oxygen, and are under the action of anaerobic bacteria that ferment organic matter, increasing its concentration in carbon, over millions of years, transforming into substances such as oil, natural gas, coal, fumes, peat, lignite and anthracite, which when burning produce carbon dioxide and monoxide and water, releasing large amounts of amounts of energy and are used as fuel by humans, in industry and in daily life), processes that have lasted millions of years, producing oil, coal, gas, etc.

Here are some examples of organic compounds:

• Acetone (CH3COCH3)
• Alcohol or Ethanol (CH3CH2OH)
• Cellulose (C6H10O5) n
• Glucose (C6H12O6)
• Sucrose (C12H22O11)